Night/Propaganda Flashcards
Memorize all
What do we learn about Eliezer’s identity from the opening pages of the memoir? What does he value? What does he hope for? What troubles him?
Valuing his faith and seeking knowledge of the Kabbalah, hoping to deepen his understanding of God, but troubled by the growing rumors of Nazi brutality against Jewish people.
What role does Moishe the beadle play in Elezer’s life?
Eliezer’s spiritual mentor and teacher of Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah)
How do others in Sighet regard Moishe? How do those views change over the course of this section of the book?
Initially, the people of Sighet view Moishe the Beadle as a kind, almost comical, figure, a “jack-of-all-trades” who is poor but beloved, but after his deportation and return with harrowing tales, they dismiss him as a madman, refusing to believe his warnings. Later in the book they come to a realization he was only speaking the truth.
What did Moishe witness when he was shipped to Poland? Why does he want the Jews of Sighet to know what he saw? How do the Jews of Sighet respond to Moishe’s stories?
Moishe wants the Jews of Sighet to know the horrors that he saw when he was deported, the extermination of other Jews. They simply don’t respond to him thinking he’s a madman.
What do the Jews of Sighet know about events beyond the town by the spring of
1944? How do you account for the way they respond to what they learn by word of mouth, over the radio, and from their own experiences?
Through word of mouth, radio broadcasts, and personal experiences, but largely dismissed warnings of impending danger, clinging to hope and optimism despite growing evidence of the Nazis’ intentions.
Eliezer recalls townspeople hearing news of the Russian front and saying, “Hitler will not be able to harm us, even if he wants to.” Eliezer comments, “Yes, we even doubted his resolve to exterminate us.” How does this statement reveal a form of dramatic irony?
Eliezer’s statement reveals dramatic irony because the reader, knowing the horrors that followed, understands the townspeople’s naivete and the tragic reality of their situation, while the characters themselves remain blissfully unaware of the impending doom.
Why do you think Elie Wiesel begins Night with the story of Moishe the Beadle?
What lessons does he seem to learn from Moishe’s experiences in telling his own story?
To establish the pre-Holocaust innocence and the eventual blindness of the Jewish community in Sighet to the impending danger, and to foreshadow the horrific events that are to come
Why does Eliezer say that he left behind his “illusions” at Auschwitz?
Signifying the acceptance of the harsh reality of their situation and the loss of their previous lives filled with hope and security.
How do the veteran inmates at Auschwitz treat the new arrivals? Why?
The veteran inmates and others imprisoned in the camp treat the new arrivals by yelling at them and asking why they are even here. However very few of them are trying to help the new arrivals without them knowing telling them to lie about their age.
How does Eliezer react when his father is beaten for the first time?
This is the first depiction of Elizer’s loss of emotion as he doesn’t do anything over his father getting beaten and instead feels rage/helplessness.
How has the environment at Auschwitz made Eliezer see the world differently?
A loss of faith, a diminished sense of humanity, and a focus on survival.
What are key words or phrases that show how Eliezer’s identity is changing?
“I became A-7713,” “From the depths of the mirror, a corpse was contemplating me,” and “The student of Talmud, the child I was, had been consumed by the flames,”
In spite of the widespread cruelty in Auschwitz, what are some examples of how humanity is shown?
Some humanity is shown in Auschwitz through, the father son relationship, bonds formed between prisoners, even some of the Kapos showed humanity but were later removed for it.
How is Eliezer’s relationship with his father changing in this section? Give examples.
their relationship becomes increasingly strained, marked by Eliezer’s growing sense of self-preservation and a shift in their roles.
What new relationships does Eliezer form in this section? What is the nature of those relationships?
He develops a friendship with Yossi and Tibi, Zionists who share a hope for the future in Palestine. As well as Juliek and a girl from France.
Who has authority in Buna. Why do they have that authority, and how do they use it?
Kapos which are often German-Jews, who show a little bit of Humanity. Placed by SS officers/Nazi officals.
Eliezer says that he witnessed many hangings, but he only writes about two. Why are the two hangings that Eliezer witnesses in this section so significant to him?
They represent profound shifts in his faith and understanding of humanity, marking a turning point in his journey of survival and loss of innocence. One of them was a small boy.
How is Eliezer’s identity changing in this section? Find evidence to support your answer.
His apathy and the loss of his faith.
How do the meanings of the Jewish holidays Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) change in the camps? How do they stay the same?
Took on new, somber significance, becoming symbols of hope and resilience amidst unimaginable suffering, and marking the stark reality of divine judgment in the camps.
Why does Eliezer refuse to fast during Yom Kippur, and what crisis of faith does he face in this section?
An act of rebellion against God, whom he blames for their suffering, and also because his father forbids him to fast.
Why did Eliezer’s father give him a spoon and a knife as an inheritance? What is the significance of that gift in Auschwitz?
Gave him a spoon and a knife as his “inheritance” because, after being selected for the second round of selection, he was essentially being stripped of all possessions and his life, and these were the only items left to pass on to his son.
Why is Buna going to be evacuated, and what choice does this force Eliezer and his father to make?
The Russian army is closing in, forcing Eliezer to choose between staying in the infirmary or evacuating with the other prisoners, ultimately choosing to leave with the others.
What does the music that Juliek plays on the violin mean to the other prisoners?
A defiant act of humanity and hope amidst the horrors of the concentration camp, offering solace and a brief respite from the dehumanizing conditions.
What do the three stories of fathers and sons have in common? How are they different?
Rabbi Eliahu and his son who had left his dad behind purposefully during the March in hope he’d die, however the opposite occurred and the son died, Elizier lies to him saying his son may be alive. The Father who got killed by his son for a piece of bread, and the son is then killed for the bread. Then finally Elizer and his father. They all showcase common the theme of losing filial piety. But are different in how extreme they all are. The first son leaves his dad but doesn’t directly kill him only in hope he would die, the second son directly kills his father, and finally Elizer sticks with his dad but feels relived when he dies.
